Easy Gingerbread Men

Cream margarine and sugar. Sift flour with salt, bicarbonate of soda and spices. Blend flour mixture into creamed mixture alternately with treacle and water. Chill at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4.

Roll dough to 5mm thick. Cut with large 15 to 20cm gingerbread men cookie cutters. Lift onto lightly greased baking tray with broad fish slice.

Bake above oven centre for about 12 minutes or until biscuits spring back lightly in centre. Do not overcook, they won't stay soft. Remove from trays. Cool on wire racks.